Safety device for street cars and similar vehicles



J. DOLAN Dec. 17, 1 929. I

SAFETY DEVICE FOR STREET CARS AND SIMILAR VEHICLES Filed Sept. 14. 19262 Sheets-Shee t l Wins/T0 0/401 DOLAN.

A T T0l-7/VE )4 J. DOLAN Dec. 17, 1929.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR STREET CARS AND SIMILAR VEHICLES Filed Sept. 14, 19262 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 fl HFLHHHHTIFIFIHHFLJ Patented Dec. 17, 1929 ent reJenn Dorian, or DAYTON, onto" sArEtrY DEVICE Fumes-saw cans AND SIMILARvEnIcLEs Application filed September 14,1926. Serial-No; 135,453.

This invention relates to safety devicesltor street carsand similarvehicles;v and is-de signed more particularly for use on street cars ofthe typeknown as one man cars. In this-type of car the'motorman at thefront end of the 'car has complete charge both of the operation of thecar and of the opening and closingot thedoors to'permit of the entranceand dischargeof passengers. The motorman cannot,--fro-m his station, seethe rear platform and step and in-the opening and closing of thereardoor he is'guided wholly by a system of mirrorsby whichhe determinesthe position of the passenge'rs with relation to the platformand" step;-Eit-her because of the motorrnans inability toseerpassengers enteringor leaving the car or through inad vertence he willsomet-imes start thecar-while passengersare on the step or platform, or willclose the doorso quicklyas to cause it" to strike a-passenge'r whoi's leaving the canor t'o'catch' the clothing of the passenger andgrip the same sothat thepassenger is held to the car and is sometimes dragged by the car whenthe latter is-started'.

One object ofthe invention is' to provide means which will be controlledby a passenger enteringor leaving thecar and will prevent thedoor frombeing closed until the passenger has left both the platform and the ste1 5 further object of the invention is to provicle means for preventingthe motor-man from starting the car so long as the door is open; andfurther to prevent the starting of the'car so longas the passenger ison-the plat form or step. r

A further object of the invention is to:pro-- vide'such a mechanismwhichwill be simple in its construction, positive in its=operation and whichmay be installed on a car atarelatively low cost. 7

Other objects of the invention will appear as the mechanism-is describedin detail.

In the aceompan'ying drawings Fig. 1 is a floor plan of a' streetcarhaving doors at both the front and'rear ends thereof; Fig. 2 is a planview of a controller lock; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of-the controllerlock; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken vertically through a portion ofthe can and showing the door controlhng-mechamsm inelevation; Fig. 5

, is a plan view of the latch, showing a portion of the'door insection;Fig. 6 is an end eleVa--' tion of the latch;- Fig. 7 is a. detail viewpartly broken away, of the toothed'locking; member for a sliding door;Fig. 8 is a detail: view ofthe toothed locking'member' for a. swingingdoor, showing. the door in section and Fig. 9 is a det-ailof the door.operated switch. v I

In these'drawings I have. illustrated. one embodiment oh my invention"and have shown the I same as applied to the rear. door only. of. atwodoor canbut it willbeunderstoodl that the-invention may be applied toeither. or both doors as may be desired I have. also.' shown. thecarasequipped' withboth a passenger controlled door'locl't and a.controller:

lock, as by the use. of these two devicesftliecontroller-lock is underthe control of a passenger' enteringfor leaving: the car-abut it. will"be understood. that either alcon't'roller lock" or the=doorilock may-beused? independently of the otheri Further, =Iwish it"tobefuiidei' stoodthat while I have shown oneembodiment of the mechanism forthe purpose oiillustration the Variousp'arts'of theapparatus may talte various 'forms'andimay bean ranged in various positions with relati on one to theother without departing from" the spirit'of the invention.

In that embodiment'of theinv'ention here illustrated the app'aratus'isap'plied to a one man streetcar of the usualty'peand which comprises a-'body portion I havingfthe -controll er 2 at the forward end thereol andhav ing front and rear doors 3 and 4' which, in the present instance,are sliding doors: These doors'a re opened and closed by the motorma'nat the forward end of the car through the usual or any suitablemechanism, such as a system of levers'or a compressed air device.Inasmuch as themeans foropen ingv and closing the doors forms no part ofthe present invention Ilia've' not illustrated I the same. The floor. ofthe car 'eXten'dson the'same level to the'rear end of the car andadjacent to: the rear doorway the fiooris provided with a depressedportion or Well which forms a platform 5 upon which a passenger stepsupon entering or leaving the car. This platform is arranged entirelywithin the car but constitutes in effect an upper step. A lower step 6is arranged on the outside of the car and is so connected with the dooroperating mechanism that it will be folded against the side of the carwhen the door is closed but will be lowered to its operative positionwhen the door is opened, this mechanism being common to street cars ofthis type.

In order to prevent the door being closed when a passenger is enteringor leaving the car I have provided means for locking the door in'itsopen position whenever a passenger is on the platform 5 or step 6. Ashere shown, I have connected with the door a locking member which, inthe case of a sliding door, is preferably in the form of a toothed bar 7which is rigidly secured to the lower portion of the door and the teethof which project below the lower edge of the door. Cooperating with thislocking memher is a second locking member, here shown in the form of alatch 8, movably mounted upon a fixed part of the car and, in thepresent instance, slidably mounted in guideways 9 and 10 mounted on thefront end of the well or depressed portion above the platform 5. Aspring 11 acts upon the latch to retract the same and hold it normallyin its inoper ative position, that is, with its nose out of the path ofthe toothed bar on the door. A lever 12 is pivotally mounted on the caradjacent to the latch and is operatively connected with the latch tomove the same against the tension of the spring 11 into a position inwhich it will be engaged by the locking member on the door and willcheck the movement of the door. As here shown this lever is in the formof a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on a bracket 13 and having itsupper arm 14. pivotally connected with the latch bar. The other arm 15of the lever is connected with a device arranged in the path of apassenger entering or leaving the car through the rear doorway so thatthe lever will be operated by the passenger, this device being,preferably. in the form of a yieldable treadle or platform. In thepresent construction, I have mounted above the platform 5 a supplementalplatform" or treadle 16 which is preferably of a size and shapesubstantially corresponding to the size and shape of the platform 5 andis pivotally connected thereto near its rear end, as shown at 17*.Operatively connected with the treadle is a connecting member, such as arod 17. the upper portion of which extends through an apertured car 18carried by the arm 15 of the lever 12 and is so connected with said armthat the movement of the rod will be transmitted to the lever. Forreasons which will hereinafter appear I prefer that the connectionbetween the rod and the lever shall be a yieldable one and I havetherefore shown a spring 19 coiled about the rod and confined betweenthe car 18 of the lever and a stop or nut 20 secured to the upper end ofthe rod. The rod may be connected with the treadle in any suitablemanner but, as here shown, it has a laterally offset portion 21 which isarranged at one edge of the treadle and is caused to move downwardlywith the treadle by a projection or plate 22 secured to the treadle andoverhanging the offset portion of the rod. The treadle 16 is yieldablysupported out of contact with the platform 5 so that it will be moveddownwardly by the weight of a passenger stepping onto the same. As ishere shown, a spring pressed plunger 23 extends through the platform 5and supports the treadle normally in a slightly elevated position butpermits the same to yield under the weight of a passenger, either largeor small. It will be apparent, therefore, that when a passenger stepsupon the treadle 16 the treadle and the connecting rod 17 will movedownward, thus rocking the lever 12 about its axis and projecting thenose of the latch bar 8 into the path of the-locking member 7 on thedoor. Should the nose of the latch strike one of the teeth on thelocking member the spring 19 will yield to permit the treadle tocomplete its movement under the weight of the passenger and as soon asthe door has moved in either direction a distance sufficient to bringone of the spaces between the teeth into line with the latch theexpansion of the spring 19 will complete the movement of the latch intoits locking position.

The latch is operated not only by the treadie 16 but also by the step 6,which constitutes a treadle. To this end the lower end portion 24 of theconnecting rod 17 extends through the platform 5 and is connected at itslower end with one end of a lever 25 which is pivotally mounted betweenits ends on a bracket 26. The other end of the lever 25 is connectedwith the inner end of a thrust rod 27, the outer end of which isarranged to be engaged by the lower or inner edge of the step or lowertreadle 6 when the latter is moved into its operative position. Thuswhen the step is forced downward it will impart rearward movement to thethrust bar 27 which will be transmitted through the lever 25 to theconnecting rod 17. The step 6 may be held normally in a slightlyelevated position by means of a bent arm 28 which is pivotally connectedat its upper end to a fixed part of the car and has a lower outwardlyextending portion provided with a head 29 which bears against the inneredge of the step. A spring 30- act ing on the arm 28 is of sufficientstrength to slightly elevate the step but will yield under the weight ofa passengerto permit the step to assume its lowermostpesition.Trhusuvhen;

either the step16 or: the treadle 16 is subjected to the'weight ofapassenger'the latclr 8 will he held in its-operative position and wvillprevent the door from being. closedz When a passenger who is leavingvthe car steps on the trea'dle116 the leverv 2'5 'will retract the thrustrod: 27 and when the pas-v senger stepsfrom. the treadlez' 16 onto.thestep 6itherstep'merely ret'ains-thethrust rod in its retractedposition without imparting addi-= tional movementthereto; .As passengert e step 6 first, thus actuating: the lock, and'l a will their step onthe treadle'16-whichfiwill teringr the car will, of course,depressretain the lock in its operative position. When the mechanisin 1slocated at aidoorway which serves'as an 6X1? onlyit'isnotessentiall-that the step G SllOlllC-l he supported in lorbet'oretheedoor is opened the'latch will he moved to'its operative position andthe forwardly beveled: nose otthe. latch will ride over the teethot-thev locking: member- 7 as the door is moved to its open: positionand will: not interfere-with the opening of the door. However, thecontact otthe latch with the toothed ban would'he noisy and wouldvsubject the-mechanism to unnecessary wear and lhave. as here shown,provided means which will hold the latch in its'inoperative positionuntilthedoorhas been opened. To

this end I nave mounted above thelatch S lever 31 which ispivotallymounted between its ends on-a: vert1cal axis, was shown at 2-32 and hasatits inner end a:downwardlyextending. part or finger 38 whichliesin thepath of a pin 34 earned by the latch bar 8. In the present instance,this pin or stop 3% is an extension of the pivot pin which connects thelever 12 with thelatch; bar. The outer end 35 of the lever 31 projectsinto the path of two stops, 36 and 87, car: ried by the door and, in thepresent instance, secured to the locking member 7 near the opposite endsthereof. hen the: door, is

moved to itsclosedposition-therear stop or pro ection 37 will engage thelever 35 and move the'finger 33 thereof into'thezpath of the pin 3-4;thus holding the'lat'ch: in itsre tracted: position; When the doorismoved toward its open position the forward-"stop'or projection 36 willengage the lever andamove out of thepath; of the pin 84,

the finger 33 thereby releasing the latch bar and permit to'itsoperative position.

ting: it to move- In case a passenger steps upon one of the treadleswhile'thezfinger 33 isin the path of the pin 34 the: pin: will becaused:- to en-- gage thezfingzerzhut-the springsldon thecon-= necting.rod 1 7- will yieldito I permit'thenrodr to continue its movementwithrthe 't'readle'andl when the latch: is released: this springtiwil'lexpand and complete: the movement of the latch bar. a I: have:alsozprovided meansvfor" cushioning. the latch a'gainst' the impact ofthe door. To this: end.- the lat ch'bar is formed: in -t'lwo parts whichare pivctally:

connected one: totlie other,- as-shownat 38: The outerwall of the; guiClGf 9,.) in which the ou-ten end. of the: latch liar? is mounted; is inthe. form of a; plate whichxis slid'ahlymounted upon? two guide rods 39and confined? between this i plate andastops' 40' at the" outer: ends ofi the" rods are springs 41 which serve; to hold athe:v outer wall of'the? guide: 9;

normally in its innermost :position hut which will yield when the'lateh:isr-sub iected to a severe.impacttbut will not yield-1 sutficiently: topermit the latch to. move out ot'f th'e path of the: locking: bar 7.

It sometimes happens *thaifia'rPESSQIlgEFWlll remain standing. on thep'la itormior. treadle 16 when the door is" open, although the passengerdoes not wishnto' leave the' carl' To" permit the door to beclosed-under such circumstances I: have connected with the": lever 12 acable'4E2' which extends about: a suitable guide 420 and extendsforwardly: to aw: point nean the motormans station: so that he canthrough this c-able;retract the latch 'andi peiimittthe door to closee-ven'though the t readl e 16 is depressed. While havefi-shown thelocking: member which is connected-v with the doorashaving-"a;plurality: of teeth it will he obvious that. the lochingimemhe'rmayicomprise a single toothor projection or'that/ the: latch may engagetheaedgeiot the dooritse'lt, However, under. suc'hx conditions the-door' could be loeked only wheni'ni its fully retract ed position whilewith the toothed bar it can be locked i in various: positions: andshould a passenger: step upon the treadle after the door had begun toclose the: latchiwilloperate to check the turthermovementi of'the door;

In some instances cars of} this type are: provided with swingingdoors,as shown I at 44,-inFig. 8, and in 'orderto applyithe inven'- tion tosuch a door it is only necessary to substitute for the-toothed bar 7' 'atoothed disk 45 which is rigidly secured tothe door at the: axis thereofso 1 that itwill be rotated: as

the door is 5 moved toward and from its open POSllZlOIL The latch 8cooperates with this toothed locking member" 45' in the-same ner th at"it cooper-ates with the 7 The means: tori preventing the car from beingstarted whilef'a passenger is entering or leaving the same:comprises avcontroller lock which is heldin itsoperative @position' whenever thedoor is open, and e'inas-much as the door'cannot beclosed 'solongrasa-passenger'is on eithen of the treadles tllQiCEll" cannot be started solong as the passenger is on elther of the treadles. The devlce may takevarious forms but, ashere shown, it comprises a locking arm or lever 46which is pivotally mounted at 47 on a supporting frame 48 which in turnis mounted upon the wall of the controller 2 so that the arm will extendinto the controller through a suitable opening therein. The locking arm46 may engage any suitable locking member which is connected with thecontroller handle. but, in the present instance, I have utilized theusual disk 49, which is rigidly secured to the shaft for the controllerhandle, and to this end have provided this disk with a notch 50 which isso arranged that when the handle is in its off or neutral position thenotch will lie in the path of the end of the locking arm 46 and this armmay be moved into that notch so that it will prevent movement of thecontroller handle. A spring 51 connected with the other end of thelocking arm tends to hold the latter normally in an inoperativeposition. Mounted on the supporting frame 48 is an electromagnet 52, thearmature 53 of which is connected, by an arm 54, with the locking arm 46so that when the magnet is energized the locking arm will be moved toits operative position. In the present instance, I have shown a doublecoil magnet having a single armature for the two coils, which ispivotally supported beneath the lower coil. As a result when the magnetis deenergized the lower portion of the armature is spaced from thelower coil of the magnet a distance lessthan the distance the upperportion of the armature is spaced from the upper coil of the magnet.Consequently a strong initial pull is exerted on the lower portion ofthe armature and this pull is continued as the upper portion of thearmature approaches the magnet. In this manner a powerful pull of longduration is secured and such a magnet requires much less current thanwould be required by a single coil magnet to accomplish the samemovement. A circuit breaker and closer 55 is interposed in the circuit56 of the magnet 52 and is so controlled by the movement of the doorthat the circuit breaker and closer will be closed whenever the door isopened, thus causing the magnet to be energized and the locking armmoved to its operative position. This circuit breaker and closer may beof any suitable character and may be arranged in any suitable locationbut, as here shown, it is an ranged atthe rear edge of the doorway andcomprises a resilient member 57 which, when unrestrained, will maintaincontact with the fixed member 58 of the switch. The resilient member 57has a part which extends into the path of the door 4 and when this doormoves to its closed position the resilient member 47 of the switch willbe moved out of contact with the fixed member thereof and the circuitbroken, thus de-energizing the magnet and permitting the locking arm tobe moved to its inoperative position by the spring 51. A stop 59 limitsthe movement of thearmature 53 by the spring 51.

If desired, a signal may be provided to indicate to the motorman whenthe controller has been released. To .this end I have mounted upon thesupporting frame 48 a bell (50 adapted to be engaged by a tapper 61carried by an arm 62 arranged .to be engaged by'a part of the armaturestructure 53 when the latter is moved away from the magnet,

thus causing the tapper to engage the bell when the locking arm is movedto its inoperative position.

Yi hile I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the detailsthereof as various modifications may occurto a person skilled in theart.

- Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to sedure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a car having a doorway, a door therefor, and a platform adjacentto said doorway, a locking member connected with said door, a secondlocking member movable into looking position with relation to the firstmentioned locking member to retain said door in its open position, apart movably mounted adjacent to said platform and arranged to beactuated by a passenger passing through said doorway, an operatingdevice mounted independently of said second locking member and saidmovable part and operatively connected with said second locking memberto move the latter to said locking position, and means actuated by saidmovable part to control the operation of said operating device.

In a car having a doorway and a door therefor, a locking memberconnected with said door, a second locking member movable into lockingposition with relation to the first mentioned locking member to retainsaid door in its open position, a treadle movably supported in the pathof a passenger passing through said doorway, an operating device mountedindependently of said treadle and said second locking member andoperatively connected with said second locking member to move the latterint-o locking position, and means actuated by said treadle to. controlthe operation of said operating device.

3. In a car having a doorway, and a door therefor, a locking memberconnected with said door, a second locking member movable into lockingposition with relation to the first mentioned locking member to retainsaid door in its open position, means to retain said secondlockingmember normally in an in operative position, a treadle movablysup ported in the path of a passenger passing through said doorway, anoperating device mountedindependently of said second lock- ,ing memberand said treadle-and operatively connected with said second lockingmember ,tomove-the latter .to said locking position, ,and vnie-ansactuated by said *treadle-to con- ZtI'OlslZhQ operationof said operatingmember.

A. In acarhaving a doorway and aslidable door therefor, a lockingmember-carried :bysaid door and having a pluralityof parts formingstops, a second locking member movable into andout of a positiontoengage any one of said stops, a .treadle movably supported in the pathof a passenger passing :tbrough said doorway, and means actuated by saidtreadle: to cause said locking member to lie-imovedto an. operativeposition with're- J-lation to saidrfirst-mentioned locking member.

5. in a carhaving a doorway and a door --therefor, a locking memberconnected "with said-door, a isecond'locking member movable intoand outofa position to-engage the first -mentioned locking member, a pluralityof ttreadles arrangedin the path of a passenger passing through saiddoorway, and means operatively connected with each of said treadles .to:control the movement of said second locking :member.

16. "'InEaicar having a doorway and a door ':therefor, and :having aplatform adjacent to said doorway, ,a locking member connected with saiddoor, a second locking member mova'bleiinto and out of a position t'oengage the first mentioned locking member, a spring to retain saidsecond locking member normally in :itsinoperative position, a treadlesupported by :saidplatformand arranged in the pathof a passengerpassin-gthrough said doorway, and means actuated by said treadle to movesaidsecond locking member against the actionof said spring in a positionto engage the first mentioned locking member.

"7. l-n-a carhaving a doorway-and a door therefor, a lockingmember-connected with said door, a second locking member movable int-oandout of position to engage the first mentioned locki n member, atreadle arranged in the pa 'h ofa passenger passing through saiddoorway,an d'a device connected with said treadle and yieldablyconnected withsaidsecond locking member-t0 causejthe latter to beactuated'bysaidtre'adle.

8. Ina-car having a doorway and a door therefor, a docking memberconnected with said door, a second-locking'member movable into and outof a position to engage the first mentioned locking me nber, a gtreadlearranged in the path of a passenger passing through said doorway, anactuating lever connected .with-saidsecond"locking member, and vayie'ldable :connectionbetween said actuating "lever and said 'treadle.

29.. In :a car rhavinga doorway and a door therefor, ,;a docking memberconnected with saiddoor, a: second 'alock-ingmember :movable into out ofa p s t on-to en -gag tllsifilet "mentionedrlocking member, a treadlearrangedin the path of a passenger passing through said doorway, anactuating lever -pivot-ally mounted on a fixed support and connectedwith said second locking memben ands device to operatively-connect saidlever with; said treadle.

10. In aacar havinga doorway and a door therefor, .a locking memberconnectedv with said door, a second locking member movable into androutofaposition'to engage the first mentioned looking member, a treadlearranged in the path of a passenger passing through said doorway, anactuating lever con- "nected-withsaid second'locking member, and,ralconnecting rod secured to sa1d treadle and yieldably connected withsaid glever.

;11.--In a car having-adoorway andadoor therefor, a locking memberconnected with said door, a second {locking member movable,

intoand out ofa position'to engage said first mentioned locking member,a plurality of treadles arranged in the path of a passenger passingthrough said doorway, an actuating lever connected with said secondlocking, :member, a rod yieldably connected with said ieverfand means:forconnecting said rod with a plurality of said treadles whereby thedepression of either treadle ;will actuate said second'locking member. 1

12. In a car having a doorway, and a door therefor, and having atreadleand a step arranged adjacent to sai'ddoorway, alockmg memberconnected with said door, a second locking member movable into and outof a position-to engage the first mentioned locking member, vanactuating lever connected with said second locking member, a rodconnected with said actuating lever, secured to said :treadle andextending downwardly therefrom, a lever connected with-the lower end ofsaid rod, and means arranged to be actuated by said step for lmpartingmovement to said red when said step is depressed.

13. In a car;having a doorway and a door therefor, and having a treadleand a step arrangedadjacent to said doorway, a locking member connectedwith said door, a second locking member movable into and out of aposition to engage the'first mentlonedvlocklng rtherefor, a" lockingmember connected with ;sa1d.-door, a second locking member movable intoand loutzo'f a position-toengage the first mention ocking mem e treadle1? i -ran 'cd in the path of a passenger passing through said doorway,an operative connection between said treadle and said secondlocking'member, means to retain said second release said second lockingmember.

15. In a car having a doorway and a door therefor, a locking memberconnected with said door, a latch bar mounted for sliding movement intoand out of the path of the first mentioned locking member, a spring toretract said latch, a treadle arranged in the path of the passengerpassing through said doorway, means actuated by said treadle for movingsaid latch bar against the action of said'spring, a stop carried by saidlatch bar, a'lever pivotally mounted adjacent to said latch bar, havingat one end a part movable into and out of the path of said stop andhaving its other end arranged adjacent to said door, and parts movablewith said door to actuate said lever to move the first mentioned leverinto and out of the path of said stop.

'16. In a car having a doorway and a door therefor, a locking memberconnected with said door, a latch bar slidably mounted for movement intoand out of the path of said locking member, the forward portion of saidlatch bar being movable transversely to the length thereof, yieldablemeans to resist the transverse movement of said portion of said latchbar, a treadle arranged in the path of a passenger passing through saiddoorway, and means actuated by said treadle for controlling the slidingmovement of said latch bar.

17. In a car having a doorway and a door therefor, a locking memberconnected with said door, a second locking member movable into and outof operative position with relation to said first mentioned lockinganember, a treadle arranged in the path of a passenger passing throughsaid doorway, an operative connection between said treadle and saidsecond locking member to cause the latter to be moved to an operativeposition when said treadle is depressed, and means for retracting saidsecond locking member while said treadle is depressed.

p 18. In a car having a doorway, a door to close said doorway, and meansto control the operation of said car, a device to hold said controllingmeans against operation, means controlled by the movement of said doorto actuate said device, a treadle arranged in the path of a passengerpassing through said doorway, and means actuated by the treadletocontrol the movement of said door.

19. In a car having a doorway, a door to close said doorway, and meansto control the operation of said car, a device to hold said controllingmeans against operation, an electromagnet for moving said holding deviceinto its operative position, a switch interposed in said circuit and soarranged with relation to said door that the switch will be closed whenthe door is opened and opened when the door is closed, a treadlearranged in the path of a passenger passing through said doorway, andmeans actuated by said treadle to prevent the closing of said door.

20. In a car having a doorway, a door to close said doorway and means tocontrol the operation of said car, a locking member connected with saiddoor, a second locking member movable into and out of position to engagethe first mentioned locking member, a treadle arranged in the path of apassenger passing through said doorway, means connected with saidtreadle for actuating said second locking member, a device movable intoand out of a position to lock said controlling means against operation,an electromagnet operatively connected with said device, a switchconnected in a circuit with said magnet and so arranged with relation tosaid door that the circuit through said magnet will be 7 broken whensaid door is closed and said circuit will be closed when said door isopened.

21. In a car having a doorway, a door therefor, a controller comprisinga'handle, and a disk rigidly secured to said handle and provided with anotch in the periphery thereof, a pivoted locking member having one endarranged to be moved into the notch in said di k when said handle is inits neutral position, a spring acting on said arm to move the same outof said-notch, an electromagnet comprising an-armature, an operativeconnection between said armatureand said locking arm to cause said armto be moved into the notch in said disk when said magnet is energized,and means controlled by said door to close the circuit through saidmagnet when said door is in its open position and to break said circuitwhen said door is in its closed position.

22. In a car having a doorway, a door therefor, a controller comprisinga handle and a disk rigidly secured to said handle and provided with anotch in the periphery thereof, a pivoted locking member having one endarranged to be moved into the notch in said disk when said handle is inits neutral position, a spring acting on said arm to move the same outof said notch, an electromagnet comprising an armature, an operative 0onnection between said armature and said looking arm to cause said arm tobe moved into the notch in said disk when said magnet is energized,-means controlled by said door to close the circuitthrough said magnetwhen said door is 1n its open position and to break said circuit whensaid door is in its closed position, a signal associated with said look-23. In a car having a door and a controller to control the operation ofsaid car, a device movable into and out of a position to retain saidcontroller in a neutral position, a magnet comprising two coils, apivoted armature common to both coils of said magnet, and an operativeconnection between said armature and said retaining device, a circuitbreaker and closer for said magnet, and

-means controlled by said door to operate said circuit breaker andcloser.

24. In a car having a doorway and a door therefor, a locking device tohold said door in its open position, a platform treadle operativelyconnected with said locking device, a step having a movable tread, andmeans controlled by said step to retain said looking device in theposition to which ithas been moved by said treadle.

25. In a car having a doorway and a. door therefor, a locking device tohold said door in its open position, a treadle operatively connectedwith said locking device, a step having a movable tread, and means forconnecting the tread of said step with said treadle, said connectingmeans being so arranged that the downward movement of said treadle willactuate the connecting means to permit the tread of said step to move toits lowermost position.

26. In a car having a doorway and a door therefor, a locking device tohold said door in its open position, a treadle operatively connectedwith said locking device, a step having a movable tread, a movablemember arranged in the path of the tread of said step, and meansactuated by said treadle to move said movable member and permit thedownward movement of said tread.

27. Street car exit door controlling mechanism consisting in a slidingdoor, a latching member extended transversely of the door on the door, aplate on the platform adjacent the door and depressible by the weight ofa passenger, a part supported on said plate in operable relation withthe latching member and yieldingly responsive thereto in the movementsof the door, and means engaging said part as the plate is depressed foreffecting unyielding engagement thereof with the latching membor andpreventing closing of the door.

28. Street car exit door controlling mechanism consisting in a latchingmember on the'door extending transversely of the door, a plate on theplatform adjacent the door depiessible by the weight of a. passenger, apart supported on said plate in operable relation with the latchingmember and yieldingly responsive thereto in the movement of the door,means engaging said part as said plate is depressed for effectingunyielding engagement thereof with the latching member and preventingclosing of the door, a movable car step and connections between the stepand said plate holding the plate depressed as the weight of thepassenger is transferred hereto.

JOHN DOLAN.

